Newcastle Borough Council are set to spent £70,000 on tree planting

More trees are to be planted in sites across Newcastle Borough. Consultations have already started on phase five of the project. In just three years the project has already planted 14,947 trees over 21 sites in the first four stages of the project, however, the Borough Council has teamed up with Britain in Bloom Plant a Bloomin’ Tree project which has planted 9995 trees, taking the total to 24,942.

The report to cabinet notes that stage five of the project will cost £70,000, however, A sum of up to £80,000 has been allocated in the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to cover the cost. The report also says that significant staff time will be required to carry out consultations, design and engage with stakeholders.

Phase five of the project, subject to consultation with residents, will see trees planted  at the Dingle in Bradwell; Grange Lane Community Centre; Betley Place, Clayton; Earls Drive, Clayton; Wolstanton Marsh; and Wye Road. Some of these sites have been strategically chosen to help stop traveller incursions. 

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle Borough Council said: “This is a really important part of the council telling the story about its sustainable environment strategy. Not only in the future to get to net zero but also public green spaces, which there are about 60 of them across the borough which we protected as urban carbon capture areas.

“Many in the past have been brought forward for housing developments, we stopped those and made sure that these are protected in our new local plan. This new phase will lead to a dual purpose on some of the sites which is adding to the traveller protection, particularly where we’ve had incursions this year, we’ve had incursions on the Marsh and Wye Road which caused concerns for local residents.

The report to cabinet details the importance of the scheme for the council to reach the net zero target. The report states: The lifespan of trees and the timescales (20 – 30 years) involved for newly planted trees to grow to the age where they begin to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, ultimately, they will assist in the Council’s aim of becoming carbon neutral through carbon sequestration and offsetting when the trees begin to mature.”

Part of the borough’s completed planting programme includes the creation of Lyme Forest, to mark the 850 th anniversary in 2023 of the granting of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s first Royal Charter. A total of 850 limes, plus other deciduous trees, placed on the northern boundary of the former Keele Golf Course in Silverdale, acknowledge the borough’s historic link with ‘The Forest of Lyme’, which was once said to span tracts of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

The consultation can be accessed here and will run to Monday 20 November with the aim of the trees being planted between February and March. The council is also looking for donations to help with the tree planting strategy 

David Hutchison, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Sustainable Environment, said: “This an investment in the future by planting trees now that will mature in 20 or 30 years. Not only will they improve the landscape, they will make a huge contribution to carbon capture and off-setting emissions as we move towards net carbon zero.

“Once a tree reaches maturity it may live for several hundred years, each year absorbing tons of carbon dioxide and replacing it with oxygen. By planting thousands of trees which may outlast our grandchildren’s grandchildren, we’re making a long-lasting commitment to make our communities a better place.”